Nigel Pearson has insisted Leicester City’s owners have given him assurances about his future despite suggestions that he was sacked as manager on Sunday before being reinstated and becoming embroiled in a war of words with Gary Lineker. The Leicester manager hit out at “fountain of knowledge” Match of the Day pundits who he said exaggerated his touchline fracas with James McArthur of Crystal Palace.
Pearson on Monday declined to go into detail about the confusing and farcical events, following a weekend which ended with his job still intact despite numerous sources stating that the club were moving to terminate his contract. Leicester released a statement dismissing reports and insisting the 51-year-old would remain in charge for Tuesday night’s Premier League match at Arsenal.
The Leicester owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was at the home defeat to Palace and Lineker – the Match of the Day presenter and former Leicester striker – responded to Pearson’s criticism of the programme by saying on Twitter: “If I was [a fountain of knowledge] I’d tell you that he was sacked by one of the owners’ family and reinstated by another, but then I’m not.”
He also wrote: “Ah Nigel Pearson is blaming MOTD for making a mountain out of a molehill. We’d best be careful in future, the fella can look after himself.” Pearson had said of the incident, which saw him grab the prone McArthur by the throat: “I don’t care what they think of me, I pay my tax bill ... It’s not helpful when the three fountains of knowledge on Match of the Day make a mountain out of a molehill.”
Leicester currently sit bottom of the Premier League but Pearson dismissed reports of his demise as “speculative”. He refused to divulge any details regarding conversations with the club’s Thai owners, but insisted he retains their support despite two controversial off-field incidents this term.
Asked if he is confident of being manager at the end of the season, Pearson said: “Yes, of course I am. Again, I’m always happy to take the responsibility that management and being a manager brings. You can’t go into managerial job and expect it to go exactly how you want it all the time.
“I’ve had a few ups and downs here and sometimes as a manager you have to be prepared to shoulder slightly more responsibility than you might like at times, but I’m more than happy to do that because it’s my team.
“Any assurances that I have ... what goes on behind closed doors will stay there. People I work for are not people who seek public attention, I’m always very conscious about that. I have a good working relationship with them, and a very good personal relationship with them.”
Asked if stories about his sacking were allowed to linger on Sunday because members of the club’s hierarchy were in Thailand, Pearson said: “I don’t know, possibly.”